Module 14: Comet, Stars, the Moon, and Mars

Summary

This picture book of poems explores the solar system planet by planet, making stops along the way to various moons and of course, to the "star" of the solar system, the Sun.  Douglas Florian magnificently provides young readers a wealth of information in a fun, adventurous way.  It is all presented in a way that allows readers to quickly flip through the pages or linger onger, picking out all the special facts about the featured topic on the page.  There is plenty to keep readers of all ages entertained with facts and splendid art.  The illustrations are a mix of materials, layered much like the information, inviting the reader to take as much from the buffet of the book as they want.  The poems are clever and humorous, and provide accurate information. This is an informational poetry picture book that can be simply enjoyed or used to introduce fascinating facts about the solar system and space.  

Florian, D (2007). Comets, stars, the moon, and Mars. New York, Harcourt.

Impressions

This is one of my favorites from our units of study this semester.  Douglas Florian cleverly inserts important and accurate information on each page.  The text is minimal,the poems are fun to read, and the art on the page provides additional information  for the reader if they choose to look more carefully.  He uses symbols, photos, collage, and sketches to give clues about the unique features of the topic on the page.  The poems and art complement each other and provide a enjoyable reading experience.

Professional Review

Stunning mixed-media illustrations accompany a series of poems that celebrate the wonder and mystery of space.  From the universe, the sequence narrows its focus to the galaxy, the solar system and then each body in turn, from the sun to poor demoted Pluto, and beyond.  The verse is characteristically playful, wrapping itself around the astronomical facts with ease.  Readers will learn about the temperature and size of the sun, our moon's phases and Voyager 2's discovery of Neptune's rings.  Delightful as the poems are, however, it's this volume's illustrations that surpass.  Bright gouache on brown paper bags lend texture to each spread, stamped words allow the illustrations to incorporate such details as names of moons and "sun" in several different languages; collage elements add further whimsy to the whole.  To top off this feast for the eyes, occasional die-cuts provide telescopic windows onto adjoining spreads, firmly establishing for the reader the truth that space is a vast continuum, with new surprises in every corner of the sky.  Each poem receives a thumbnail gloss at the end, offering additional facts or extending the information presented earlier.  Glorious.

Kirkus. (2007, March 15). [Review of the book Comets, stars, the moon, and Mars, by D. Florian]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/douglas-florian/comets-stars-the-moon-and-mars

Library Uses

A librarian or teacher could use this book to introduce a unit of study on the solar system.  It is a wonderful book for creating interest in the topic, and students could return to it time and again for information.  This is equally useful as a resource for the study of poetry elements.  There is wonderful imagery and use of vocabulary.  This book could be a springboard for activities in science, literature, or art.  It would be a useful tool in collaborative lessons with teachers in any of these areas, and it could be used as a tool to engage students and inspire them to pursue further research.